Marble-type game device



Ian. I 1970 I J. A. WEISBECKER flflm fii i MARBLE-TYPE GAME DEVICE FiledMay 22, 1967 .2 Sheets-Sheet 1 SLIDE SLIDE SLIDE SLIDE IN I N I I I IN IN I N IN OUT IN I III OUT I N I N I N OUT OUT I N OUT IN IN I N OUT I NOUT I III OU'II' OUT I N 001" IN IN iw' ou'r IN IN om OUT IN GU'I' m INou'r GUT 2 OUT m m' 'I OUT IN OUT OUT OUT IN 6 w G: -4 m m a (a m Q OUTOUT OUT ATTORNEY Jan. 6, 1970 Filed May 22, 1967 J. A. WEISBECKERMARBLE-TYPE GAME DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. d ose bri 1?weaisec/zer ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,488,052 MARBLE-TYPE GAMEDEVICE Joseph A. Weisbecker, 1220 Wayne Ave., Erlton, Cherry Hill, NJ.08034 Filed May 22, 1967, Ser. No. 639,960 Int. Cl. A63b 67/00 U.S. Cl.273--1 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A playing board having aplurality of through holes, and a plurality of apertured sheets slidablerelative to said board for aligning apertures with selected holes,whereby the selected holes are opened for passing checks! or marblestherethrough. The apertures in the sheets are so arranged that only onehole is in open alignment therewith at a time.

SUMMARY It is an important object of the present invention to provide agame device of the type described which is capable of many variations inplay so as to be attractive and attention arresting to persons ofsubstantially all ages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a game deviceof the type described, which may be employed for great amusement withoutrecognition of the principles involved, and alternatively utilized inview of the operating principles to afford intellectual challenge to theplayers.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a game devicehaving the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the precedingparagraphs, which is extremely simple in construction, durable andreliable throughout a long useful life, and which can be economicallymanufactured for sale at a reasonable price.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTReferring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically toFIGURES 1 and 2 thereof, the game device of the present invention isthere generally designated 10 and includes an enclosure or cover 11having an upper wall or board 12 defining a playing surface. Morespecifically, as seen in FIGURE 3, the cover 11 includes a generallyrectangular top wall or playing board 12, and a plurality of dependingside walls 13 extending peripherally about the playing board.

A central portion -15 of the playing board 12 may be raised orthickened, and is formed with a plurality of through holes 16. The holes16 are illustrated as being sixteen in number, and respectivelydesignated 0 through 15, as best seen in FIGURE 4. More particularly,the holes 16 are arranged in a rectangular or Square configuration offour parallel rows of holes, each row having four holes. The rectangularor square configuration of holes 16 is located conformably within theraised central playing-board portion 15, which is located con- 3,488,052Patented Jan. 6, 1970 formably within the bounding edges of the board12. Also, as best seen in FIGURE 4, the upper pair of horizontallyextending rows of holes 16 are spaced from the lower horizontallyextending pair of rows of holes 16 a vertical distance greater than thespacing between the upper horizontal pair of rows, and also greater thanthe spacing between the lower horizontal pair of rows. Similarly, theleft-hand vertically extending pair of rows of holes 16, as seen inFIGURE 4, are spaced from the right-hand vertically extending pair ofrows of holes 16 a horizontal distance greater than the spacing betweenthe left-hand pair of vertically extending rows, and also greater thanthe spacing between the right-hand vertically extending pair of rows.Centrally of the holes 16, the raised portion or land 15 may be formedwith an elongate, through slot 17, extending parallel to the horizontalrows of holes 16, ifdesired. Outward of the central board portion 15,the board 12 is formed, along each side edge thereof, spaced inward fromthe adjacent side wall 13, with a through opening 18. As best seen inFIGURE 4, the openings 18 are respectively provided with identifyingindicia, as by alphabetical marking, or the like, on the upper surfaceof playing board 12, for example, A and B opposite to opening A, whilethe additional opposite openings 18 are respectively designated C and D.An opposite pair of depending side walls 13 may be formed with cutouts,as at 19, extending upwardly from the lower side wall edge.

The cover 11 may be superposed, in covering relation over a platform orbase, generally designated 21, including a generally rectangular orotherwise suitably configured baseplate 22, and a generally rectangularbody 23 superposed on the baseplate. The baseplate 22 may be generallycongruent to the top wall or playing board 12, while the body 23 may besimilar thereto, but slightly smaller, for conforming engagement withinthe side walls 13 of the cover 11. The upper surface of the body 23 maybe provided with one or more upwardly facing recesses or cutouts 25,being shown for purposes of illustration as two in number, and arrangedoccupying separate halves of the body. More specifically, each recess 25underlies half of the holes 16, and has its bottom wall sloping ordeclining outwardly to define a ramp. The outwardly declining ramps orrecesses 25 each open laterally outwardly, as at 26 through oppositesides of the body 23, which openings 26 are in registry with respectiveopenings 19 in the assembled condition.

Superposed directly on the upper surface of body 23, is a guidestructure 28, see FIGURE 3, which includes a generally rectangular,substantially flat plate 29 conformably overlying the body 23, andhaving formed centrally thereof a plurality of through holes 30, inrespective registry with and beneath the holes '16 of the playing board12. At respective corners of the plate 29, the guide structure 28 islocated with a plurality of guide blocks or spacers 31 projecting abovethe upper surface of the plate 29. The guide blocks 31 are locatedoutward of the apertures 30.

A plurality of apertured sheets or slides are respectively designated32, 33, 34 and 35. Each of the sheets or slides 3245 is of generallyrectangular configuration, having a cutout at one end, as at 36, 37, 38and 39*, respectively. In the assembled condition, the several sheets32-35 are superposed on the guide structure 28, between the guidemembers 31, for independent sliding movement therebetween, and beneaththe playing board 12.

More specifically, the sheet 32 rests directly on the plate 29 of guidestructure 28, extending in one direction thereacross, while the sheet 34is superposed on the sheet 32, extending transversely thereacross, andindependently slidable between spaced pairs of guide members 31.Superposed on the sheet 34 is the sheet 33, arranged transversely of theformer sheet, so as to extend generally parallel to the lowermost sheet32, for sliding movement in the same direction as the latter sheet. Theremaining sheet 35 is superposed on the sheet 33, extending transverselyof the latter sheet in substantial parallelism with sheet 35 for slidingmovement in the same direction as the latter sheet. The lower-most sheet32 is providd adjacent to its end remote from cutout 36 with anupstanding actuating member of lug 40 spacedly received in the cutout 37of sheet 33, while the sheet 34 is provided remote from its cutout 39with an upstanding actuating member or lug 41 spacedly received in thecutout 38 of sheet 35. Additionally, the sheets 33 and 35 are provided,remote from their respective cutouts 37 and 38 with upstanding actuatingmembers or lugs 42 and 43. The actuating members 40-43 upstand throughrespective openings 18, being shiftable therein for independentlysliding respective sheets, as will appear more fully hereinafter.

As best seen in FIGURE 4, the lowermost sheet 32 is provided with aplurality of through apertures 45, say equal in number to the holes 16and of a generally overall rectangular arrangement. However, byprojection in the view of FIGURE 4, it will be apparent that therighthand pair of vertical rows of apertures 45 are located foralignment with the right-hand pair of vertical rows of holes 16, whilethe left-hand pair of rows of apertures 45 are out of alignment with anyof the holes 16. Upon leftward shifting movement of the sheet 32, theleft-hand pair of vertically extending rows of apertures 45 may be movedinto alignment with the left-hand pair of vertically extending rows ofholes 16, which displaces the righthand pair of vertically extendingrows of apertures 45 out of alignment with the right-hand pair ofvertically extending rows of holes 16. Thus, the apertures of sheet 32are arranged for alignment with either the adjacent right-hand pair ofrows of holes 16, or the adjacent lefthand pair of rows of holes 16.

The sheet 33 is provided with a generally rectangular arrangement ofapertures 46, which may also be sixteen in number. It will be apparentthat one alternate pair of vertical rows of apertures 46 are inalignment with an alternate or spaced pair of vertical rows of holes 16,while the remaining, alternate or spaced pair of rows of apertures 46are out of registry with the remaining alternate or spaced pair of holes16. Upon rightward shifting of the sheet 32, the illustrated,nonregistering apertures 46 may be shifted into registry with a pair ofalternate or spaced rows of holes 16, and the previously registeringapertures shifted out of registry.

The apertured sheet 34 is provided with the rectangular arrangement ofapertures 47, similar to that of apertures 45 in sheet 32, but shiftabletransversely of the latter. This is, an adjacent pair of horizontallyextending rows of apertures 47 are in alignment with an adjacent pair ofhorizontally extending rows of holes 16, and upon shifting movement ofthe sheet 34 a different adjacent pair of apertures 47 will be inalignment with a different adjacent pair of horizontal rows of holes 16.

The sheet 35 is formed with a generally rectangular arrangement ofapertures 48, similar in arrangement to the apertures 46 of sheet 33. Inparticular, the apertures 48 have alternate or spaced horizontal rows inalignment with alternate or spaced horizontal rows of holes 16, and uponshifting of the sheet 35, different, alternate or spaced horizontal rowsof apertures 48 are in alignment with different, alternate or spacedhorizontal rows of holes 16.

In addition, a closure sheet or card 49 may be slidably superposed overthe uppermost sheet 35, extending transversely thereof for shiftingmovement generally parallel to the sheets 32 and 33. The closure sheet49 may be provided at its opposite ends with a pair of cutouts 50, andcentrally with an upstanding actuating member or lug 5.1. The cutouts 50spacedly receive respective lugs 40 and 42, while the lug 51 upstandsspacedly through the slot 17 for shifting movement therein. The closuresheet 49 is further formed with a generally rectangular arrangement of aplurality of through apertures 52, in a configuration substantiallyidentical to that of holes 16. As seen by the projection lines in FIGURE4, the apertures 52 of sheet or slide 49 may all be in simultaneousregistry or alignment with respective holes 16. Upon shifting movementof the slide or sheet 49, the apertures 52 may all be located out of orin closing relation with respect to all of the holes 16.

It will now be apparent that selective location of all of the slides 32,33, 34, 35 and 49 may be actuated from exteriorly of the enclosure 11,specifically through the playing board 12. Thus, the holes 16 may all beclosed by movement of lug 51 in one direction, and movement of lug 51 inthe other direction moves all of apertures 52 into respective alignmentwith all of holes 16. A great number of variations in condition may beeffected by selected movement of lugs 40, 41, 42 and 43 either outwardlyor inwardly, within the limits of their respective receiving openings18. In particular, with the closure slide 49 open, the slides 32-35 maybe selectively located to open any single hole 16, in accordance withthe directions shown in FIGURE 5. In the illustrated condition, all ofthe slides 32-35, by their actuating lugs 40-43, have been shiftedinward, to the condition of hole number 0 being the only one open.

By way of operation, the game device 10 is capable of many variations.For example, it is possible to guess the number a person has in mind.The operator may start with the game device 10 in the condition ofFIGURE 4, but with slide 49 closed, and after asking a series of fourquestions, and operating the lugs 40-43 in accordance with the answers,the slide 49 may be opened and the number sought will be evidenced byfalling of a marble through the correspondingly numbered hole. Tofacilitate such use, a generally rectangular overlay sheet or card 54,see FIGURE 3, may be employed. The card 54 may have a central opening55, and a series of slide openings 56, so as to rest on the playingboard 12 with the central area 15 received in the central opening andthe side openings 56 overlying the lug openings 18. The overlay card 54may carry suitable markings, as by way of questions for operation of thelugs 40-43 to achieve the desired result.

Another game may be played by two players or teams, wherein the slidesare initially set as indicated in FIG- URE 4, and the holes 16 filledwith marbles or checks. The players or teams take turns moving theirrespective lugs 40-43 in an attempt to open a maximum of holes 16, andcollect the resultant falling marbles. The player or team having thegreatest number of marbles when all have fallen through the holes 16being the winner.

The above-described game may be played with many variations, such asutilizing differently colored marbles or checks, some of which aredesirable to obtain, While others carry penalties, such as replacingmarble or checks.

There are also puzzle-type games, as for one player, say where, in thestarting condition, there are provided a specific arrangement of marblesin the holes 16, and it is attempted to remove the marbles by openingthe holes in a minimum number of slide moves.

It will be appreciated that there are sixteen patterns or arrangementsof slide positions, each opening a respective hole 16. It will thereforebe apparent that the pattern of slide positions is equivalent to binaryrepresentation of the decimal hole numbers, so thatbinary-to-decimal-number conversion can be demonstrated for teachingpurposes, if desired.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides agame device which fully accomplishes its intended objects and is welladapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by wayof illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, itis understood that certain changes and modifications may be made withinthe spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A game device comprising a playing board having a plurality ofthrough holes, and a plurality of sheets each independently slidable infacing relation with respect to said board, said sheets each havingapertures movable with the respective sheet into aligned relation withcertzlin of said holes, said holes being arranged in parallel rows andsaid sheets being slidable transversely of said rows, certain of saidsheets being constrained to shifting movement in one direction and otherof said sheets being constrained to shifting movement in anotherdirection transverse of said one direction, the apertures of each sheetbeing spaced differently from each other and from said holes foraligning sheet apertures with diiferent holes upon shifting movement ofsaid sheets, whereby said holes are adapted to be selectively openedupon sheet movement to predetermined positions for passing checksthrough said holes.

2. A game device according to claim 1, said sheets each being shiftablebetween a pair of limiting positions for aligning apertures withdifferent holes in diiferent positions.

3. A game device comprising a playing board having a plurality ofthrough holes, and a plurality of sheets each independently slidable infacing relation with respect to said board, said sheets each havingapertures movable with the respective sheet into aligned relation withcertain of said holes, said holes thereby adapted to be selectivelyopened upon sheet movement to predetermined positions for passing checksthrough said holes, said holes being arranged in at least four parallelrows each having at least four holes, and said sheets comprising atleast four in number and each having at least four parallel rows of atleast four apertures each, the apertures of each sheet being spaceddiiferently from each other and from said holes for aligning sheetapertures with different holes upon sliding movement of said sheets.

4. A game device according to claim 3, in combination With an additionalsheet independently slidable in facing relation with respect to saidboard and having a plurality of apertures located in parallel rowssimilar to said holes for movement of said additional-sheet aperturesinto and out of alignment with all of said holes.

5. A game device according to claim 3, in combination with a baseunderlying said board and sheets and having a ramp for gravitationallyreceiving and directing a rollable check passed through an aligned holeand apertures.

6. A game device according to claim 3, certain of said sheets beingslida'ble parallel to said rows, and other of said sheets being slidabletransversely of said rows, one of each of said certain and other sheetshaving its apertures arranged for alignment with adjacent holes in eachposition of sliding, and a remaining sheet of each of said certain andother sheets having its apertures arranged for alignment with spacedholes in each position of sliding.

7. A game device according to claim 6, in combination with an indiciacard replaceably overlying said board about said holes for indicatingmovement of said sheets to achieve a desired aperture alignment withsaid holes.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,061,313 10/196'2 Greene 273-139RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner PAUL E. SHAPIRO, Assistant Examiner

